Protection against mite contamination

Abstract

A shelf-stable intermediate moisture food with a water content of about 15 to 50% and with water soluble solutes in an amount to provide bacteriostasis is protected against the infestation and reproduction of mites by incorporation of a material selected from the group consisting of fatty acids containing carbon atoms from C4 to C10, fatty acid amides containing carbon atoms from C3 to C10, fatty acid esters containing carbon atoms from C3 to C10, fatty acid salts containing carbon atoms from C3 to C10, propionic acid and mixtures thereof with the propionic acid being employed only in conjunction with the fatty acid, amide, ester or salt.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. A food composition having a moisture content of about 15 to 50% by weight comprised of a comestible material normally capable of supporting bacteriological growth, water soluble solutes in an amount to provide bacteriostasis to said food composition, and a material affording protection against the infestation and reproduction of mites of an effective amount of from 1.0 to 3.0% by weight fatty acid component selected from the group consisting of straight chain fatty acids containing carbon atoms from C 4  to C 10 , fatty acid amides derived from fatty acids containing carbon atoms from C 3  to C 10 , fatty acid salts derived from fatty acids containing carbon atoms from C 3  to C 10 , propionic acid and mixtures thereof, said propionic acid being employed only in conjunction with said fatty acid, amide, ester or salt. 
     
     
       2. The method of claim 1 wherein said fatty acid is capric. 
     
     
       3. The method of claim 1 wherein said fatty acid is caproic. 
     
     
       4. The method of claim 1 wherein said fatty acid is caprylic. 
     
     
       5. The method of claim 1 wherein said fatty acid ester is methyl ester. 
     
     
       6. The method of claim 1 wherein said fatty acid salt contains copper. 
     
     
       7. The method of claim 1 wherein said fatty acid salt contains sodium. 
     
     
       8. The method of claim 1 wherein said fatty acid salt contains calcium.